Vibrator attachement for electric clipper

ABSTRACT

A vibrator attachment for an electrically driven hair clipper having a reciprocating driving member. The attachment is a member having detachable mounting means for connecting one part to the housing of the clipper and another detachable mounting means for connecting another part of the reciprocating driving member. Straps are secured to the attachment for holding an operator&#39;&#39;s hand. The operator&#39;&#39;s hand is placed on the person to be massaged and the massaging action is effected by the vibration imparted by the reciprocating driving member.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Floyd Z. llerrington 808 East Cameron, Hanford, Calif. 93230 {21] Appl. No. 857,244 [22] Filed Mar. 18, I969 [45] Patented June 8,1971

[54] VIBRATOR ATTACHEMENT FOR ELECTRIC CLIPPER 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI. 128/49 [51] lnt.Cl A61h7/00 [50] Field of Search 128/32, 48,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,818,287 8/1931 Wahl 128/41 2,437,402 3/1948 Palmer 128/49 3,075.519 1/1963 Wright 128/52X FOREIGN PATENTS 710,537 6/1931 France 128/52 Primary Examiner-L. W. Trapp Attorney-Vergil L. Gerard ABSTRACT: A vibrator attachment for an electrically driven hair clipper having a reciprocating driving member. The attachment is a member having detachable mounting means for connecting one part to the housing of the clipper and another detachable mounting means for connecting another part of the reciprocating driving member. Straps are secured to the attachment for holding an operators hand. The operator's hand is placed on the person to be massaged and the massaging action is effected by the vibration imparted by the reciprocating driving member.

PATENTED JUN 8 I971 3, 5 8 3 3 9 5 saw 2 nr 2 FL 0Y0 Z. HE RR/NG TON IN VE N TOR VIBRATOR ATTACIIEMENT FOR ELECTRIC CLIPPER This invention relates to vibrators for scalp massage and particularly to attachments for converting motor driven hair clippers into such vibrators.

It is a common practice in barber shops today for the barber to massage the customer's scalp after cutting and before combing his hair. Electric vibrators are generally used for this massage.

In modern barber shops electric clippers are used for clipping and electric vibrators are used for the scalp massage. The electric vibrators fall into two general types. They are either integral units which incorporate their own driving means, or they are attachments designed to be coupled to and driven by an electric hair clipper. Vibrators of the attachment type are generally less expensive than the integral unit type since they do not require their own driving means. The attachment type vibrators presently known have substantial disadvantages, however.

In the first place, none of the presently known attachment type vibrators are suitable for use on the electric hair clippers most prevalent in modern barber shops. Particularly, no attachment type vibrator exists which can be used on the electric clippers manufactured by the Oster Manufacturing Company, and these clippers have achieved wide use in the barbering trade. Secondly, many vibrator attachments presently known are not quickly and easily attachable and detachable from the electric clippers with which they are coupled, and others are not sufficiently effective in providing the required vibration. I

Therefore, a need exists for an attachment type vibrator which is capable of overcoming these disadvantages.

It is therefore a major object of my invention to provide a vibrator attachment capable of use with all the presently popular models of the Oster clippers and other similar electric hair clippers.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a vibrator attachment of the type described which can be quickly and easily attached to and detached from the electric hair clipper with which it is designed to be used.

It is another object of my invention to provide a vibrator attachment of the type described which, when coupled with an electric hair clipper, will produce vibration for scalp massage substantially equivalent to that produced by vibrators of the integral unit type.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a vibrator attachment of the type described which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to use.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of my vibrator attachment shown in close proximity with an electric hair clipper to which it is attachable;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention showing my vibrator attachment attached to an electric hair clipper;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 2 showing particularly the means provided on my vibrator attachment for securing it to the electric hair clipper;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 2 and showing particularly the means by which my vibrator attachment is coupled to the driving mechanism of an electric hair clipper; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 2 showing my vibrator attached to an electric clipper.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, a preferred embodiment of my vibrator attachment is designated generally by the numeral and is shown in close proximity to an electric hair clipper 11 with which the vibrator attachment is designed to be coupled. The electric clipper 11, for this embodiment of my vibrator attachment 10, is an Oster clipper Model 010 manufactured by the Oster Manufacturing Company. This embodiment of my vibrator attachment l0 also works with Oster clippers Models 01 l 1 and 076, without modification. These electric hair clippers are the most popular ones in present use. With.minor modifications my vibrator attachment 10 may be coupled to other models of Oster clippers and with nearly all other clippers presently in use by commercial shops.

The electric clipper 11 has a fixed blade and a reciprocating blade (not shown). These blades have comblike leading edges which are juxtaposed adjacent the cutting end 14 of the clipper 11. The blades perform their clipping function by lateral reciprocation of reciprocating blade with respect to fixed blade in a manner well known in the clipper art. The reciprocating blade is driven by an elongated tongue 15 which projects from the cutting end 14 of the clipper 11. The tongue 15 is driven by electric drive means 16 in the main body of the clipper 11. The reciprocating blade is readily removable from the clipper, primarily for easy cleaning and sharpening.

The vibrator attachment 10 has a base 17 which is preferably made of relatively strong, lightweight material such as a block of wood, covered with an aluminum backing plate 18 which has a flange 19 about its periphery. The base 17 could also be formed from suitable plastic materials, the principal requirements being moderate strength, lightweight, good durability, and pleasing appearance.

A pad 20 is affixed to the face 21 of the base 17. Pad 20 is preferably formed of resilient material such as sponge rubber, plastic foam, covered with a flexible and durable sheet material such as N augahyde or cloth. The particular requirements of the pad are that it be comfortable to human touch and sufficiently resilient to impart the vibrations directly to a human member without discomfort.

To provide means for attaching the vibrator attachment 10 to the back of an operator's hand, hand straps 22 and 23 are provided. These straps are secured at their ends to opposite sides of the base 17 and extend downwardly a suitable distance below the pad 20 to provide room for the insertion of an operator's hand between the pad 20 and the straps as best shown in FIG. 4. Hand straps 22 and 23 are separated from each other so that the vibrator attachment 10 is secured to the operator's hand at both ends. The strap 23 which is disposed near the front end of the base 17 is somewhat shorter than the strap 22 which is disposed more rearly on the base 17, since the strap 22 must accommodate a thicker portion of the operator's hand.

The hand straps 22 and 23 are also formed of material which is comfortable to human touch such as Naugahyde or cloth. It must, of course, be strong and durable enough to snugly secure the vibrator attachment to the operators hand.

In order to couple the vibrator attachment 10 to the electric clipper 11 in a vibration imparting manner, an elongated tubular receptacle 25 is mounted on the backing plate 18 of base 17 near the front portion. As best shown in FIG. 5, the receptacle 25 is secured to the baseplate 17 by a mounting screw 26 and is held in a elevated position above the base. A housing 27 is mounted on base 17 in surrounding relationship to the mounting screw 26 and the mounted end of the receptacle 25. The other end 28 of receptacle 25 projects rearwardly from the mounting screw 26 at an inclined angle with respect to the baseplate 18 and extends outside of the housing 27 through an opening 28.

The angle between the receptacle 25 and the baseplate 18 of base 17 is so arranged that the receptacle 25 is in proper position to receive the tongue 15 of the clipper when the vibrator attachment is coupled with the clipper. The size of the receptacle 25 is adapted to snugly receive the tongue 15 when the clipper is coupled with the vibrator attachment. In order to couple the vibrator attachment 10 to the clipper l 1, it is necessary only to insert the tongue 15 in the receptacle 25 and rest the body of the clipper on the rear portion of backplate 18.

To hold the rear portion of the clipper body to backplate 18 two manually releasable catches 29 are disposed adjacent the edges of baseplate 17 at such a distance from receptacle 25 that the catches align with cutout portions 30 which exist in the body of the clipper lll, when the tongue 15 is fully inserted in the receptacle 25 and the clipper body is resting on the baseplate 17. The catches 29 have engaging hooks 31 which are resiliently based by springs 32 and engage surfaces in the cutout portions 30 of the clipper body to hold the clipper body in contact with the baseplate until the catches are manually released, as best shown in FIG. 3 and 5.

With the clipper llil coupled with the vibrator attachment in the manner described, vibration is imparted to the vibrator attachment by energizing the clipper. This causes tongue 15 to oscillate laterally which in turn imparts a substantial vibration to the base l7 because of the coupling provided by the receptacle 25 and mounting screw 26. The housing 27 provides additional support for the receptacle 25 and serves to further impart vibration from tongue 15 to the base 17. The weight of the clipper 111 is also imparted to the vibrator attachment through coupling of the clipper body with the vibrator base 17 thus lending mass to the vibrator.

To massage the scalp, the barber inserts his hand, palm downwardly, through the hand straps 22 and 23 with the end of his fingers extending just beyond the forward strap 23. He then moves his hand over the head of the customer working his fingers in a massaging manner and vibration is transmitted from the clipper and vibrator attachment through his hand to the customer's scalp. The result is a highly effective vibrator massage which equals that attainable from the integral type vibrators.

When it is desirable to use the clipper for hair clipping again, the catches 29 are manually activated and releasing engaging hooks 31 from the surfaces of cutout portions 30 in the clipper body. Then the tongue is withdrawn from the receptacle 25 and the clipper is free from the vibrator attachment. The reciprocating blade is then reinserted in the clipper and it is ready for normal clipping use again.

From this description it will be seen that l have provided a simple to use and inexpensive attachment which can convert an electric hair clipper into a vibrator with a minimum effort.

It should be understood, of course, that though the embodiment herein described in detail is capable of providing the advantages and attaining the objects heretofore set forth, I do not mean to limit myself to the specific details described except as set forth in the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A vibrator attachment for an electrically driven hair clipper having a reciprocating driving member comprising:

a base member;

mounting means interconnected between said base member and said clipper; and

coupling means interconnected between said base member and said reciprocating driving member. 2. A vibrator attachment according to claim 1 in which: said coupling means is readily connectable and detachable with said reciprocating driving member manually; and

which includes connecting means operatively associated with said base member for securing said base member to the hand ofa user. 3. A vibrator attachment according to claim l in which: said coupling means is readily connectable and detachable with said reciprocating driving member manually; and

which includes connecting means operatively associated with said base member for securing said base member to the hand of a user.

41. A vibrator attachment for an electrically driven hair clipper having oppositely disposed lateral grooves in its casing located adjacent its cutting end, removable, juxtaposed, relatively reciprocal, cutting blades mounted at its cutting end and a reciprocating driving member projecting from said cutting end in driving relationship with said blades, comprising:

a substantially rigid base member comfortably applicable to the human body;

a plurality of resiliently biased mounting members, disposed on said base member to engage said casing grooves for assembly of said attachment an said clipper, said mounting members being sufficiently movable against said resilient base to permit limited movement between said attachment and said clipper when assembled, and being manually releasable from said casing grooves for disassembly of said attachment and clipper; and

coupling means interconnected between said base member and said reciprocating driving member.

5. A vibrator attachment according to claim 4 in which:

said coupling means includes a tubular member rigidly secured to said base member, and disposed to snugly receive said reciprocating driving member in inserted relationship; and

which includes connecting means operatively associated with said base member for securing said base memberto the hand ofa user. 

1. A vibrator attachment for an electrically driven hair clipper having a reciprocating driving member comprising: a base member; mounting means interconnected between said base member and said clipper; and coupling means interconnected between said base member and said reciprocating driving member.
 2. A vibrator attachment according to claim 1 in which: said coupling means is readily connectable and detachable with said reciprocating driving member manually; and which includes connecting means operatively associated with said base member for securing said base member to the hand of a user.
 3. A vibrator attachment according to claim 1 in which: said coupling means is readily connectable and detachable with said reciprocating driving member manually; and which includes connecting means operatively associated with said base member for securing said base member to the hand of a user.
 4. A vibrator attachment for an electrically driven hair clipper having oppositely disposed lateral grooves in its casing located adjacent its cutting end, removable, juxtaposed, relatively reciprocal, cutting blades mounted at its cutting end and a reciprocating driving member projecting from said cutting end in driving relationship with said blades, comprising: a substantially rigid base member comfortably applicable to the human body; a plurality of resiliently biased mounting members, disposed on said base member to engage said casing grooves for assembly of said attachment and said clipper, said mounting members being sufficiently movable against said resilient base to permit limited movement between said attachment and said clipper when assembled, and being manually releasable from said casing grooves for disassembly of said attachment and clipper; and coupling means interconnected between said base member and said reciprocating driving member.
 5. A vibrator attachment according to claim 4 in which: said coupling means includes a tubular member rigidly secured to said base member, and disposed to snugly receive said reciprocating driving member in inserted relationship; and which includes connecting means operatively associated with said base member for securing said base member to the hand of a user. 